CPP Athletics Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class

By: Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

POMONA, Calif. - The Cal Poly Pomona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to introduce the 2024 induction class of the CPP Athletics Hall of Fame. Joann Miller, Niki Bracken, Larry Gordon, and the 1983 Men's Cross Country team will be honored in February for their contributions to the history of Cal Poly Pomona Athletics.
 
"Congratulations to the 2024 Broncos Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame class," said Director of Athletics Brian Swanson. "These individuals and team truly exhibited outstanding success during their time here at Cal Poly Pomona and have gone on to have stellar professional careers. It is an honor to recognize their achievements and enshrine this fabulous Hall of Fame class."
 
"The selection committee did an excellent job in deliberating on all the nominees and making these selections," continued Swanson. "We look forward to welcoming home our Broncos in February 2024 and also celebrating our current Hall of Fame members."
 

 
Joann Miller • 1982-1987 • Women's Cross Country and Track & Field

Joann Miller (nee Joann Howard) was a standout four-time All-American in women's cross country and track & field from 1982-1987. Howard was a pioneer for CPP Athletics in both sports, still holding multiple school records to this day and leading the cross country team to their first national appearance.
 
In cross country, Howard was the first All-American in program history, being named a USTFCCCA All-American in both 1985 and 1986. She was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1986 for her excellence in the classroom. Howard holds the school record for best average pace per mile (5:30) at the UCR Invitational in 1986, while also holding the fastest 5K time in program history in the same race at 17:06.4. During CPP's first National Championships appearance in 1985, Howard was the top finisher for the Broncos with a 19^th place finish at 18:44.7. In 1986, she placed ninth as an individual at the National Championships, which remains the highest finish of a CPP runner on the national stage in program history.
 
Her dominance was no different during the track & field season, as Howard still holds the school record in the 3,000 meters (9:30.54) and 5,000 meters (16:38.80). She also ranks sixth all-time in the 10,000 meters and second in the 1,500 meters. In 1985, Howard was an All-American in the 3,000 meters and in 1986, was an All-American in the 1,500 meters. She is the only student-athlete in school history to earn All-America honors in both women's cross country and women's track & field.
 
"I was very surprised and honored to hear that I was inducted into the Cal Poly Pomona Athletic Hall of Fame," said Miller. "I am so grateful to hear that I was chosen for this honor. My years at Cal Poly as a student-athlete were challenging and rewarding. I am grateful to have been given such life-impacting opportunities and I encourage all high school athletes to progress to the college level, if given the chance. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that they will cherish forever."
 
Following her graduation from CPP in 1987, Miller began her studies at Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, graduating in 1991. Later that year, she married her husband, Mike Miller, who is also a Cal Poly Pomona alumnus. Together they have two children, Christiane and Jeffrey. Miller has also been practicing dentistry for more than thirty years.

Miller continues to run and compete in road races, and has been competing in triathlons for the last 15 years. She has completed three 140.6 Ironman events and seven 70.3 Ironman events, in addition to numerous shorter triathlons. Miller believes that staying active is key to good health.

 
Niki Bracken • 1986-1990 • Women's Basketball

A two-time All-American, Niki Bracken enjoyed a prolific career for the Broncos from 1986-1990. She closed her collegiate career in a select group of 35 NCAA Division II women to earn entry into the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound club, with a conference-record 2,246 points to go along with 1,053 boards.
 
Some 33 years after playing for CPP, Bracken still ranks first in program history in games started (125), points scored (2,246 - CCAA Record), minutes played (4,045), field goals made (955 - CCAA record), field goals attempted (1,925), defensive rebounds (544), and all-around total (3,757). She also ranks in the Top 10 in CPP history in 12 other statistical categories, while holding the single season record in field goals made (265 in both 1988-89 and 1989-90), field goals attempted (562 in 1989-90), and defensive rebounds (205 in 1989-90). In addition, Bracken still holds the school record for most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game, having scored 44 in the regional final against Alaska Anchorage on March 12, 1988; sending CPP to the Elite Eight.
 
Bracken is decorated in personal accolades, including being a four-time All-CCAA honoree, 1989-90 CCAA Player of the Year, named four-time CCAA All-Tournament Team including three CCAA Tournament MVP's, 1989-90 CCAA Female Athlete of the Year, a West Region All-Tournament team MVP, back-to-back WBCA All-American, two-time AWSF All-American, three-time NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team, and was named to the DII Women's Basketball 25^th Anniversary Team.
 
"Being inducted into the [CPP] HOF is a great honor, especially for a timid girl who grew up in the city of Compton, playing basketball against the boys," said Bracken. "I had no idea what it meant to be good at basketball, all I knew is that I wanted to get home from school each day, and get my homework done, so I could go outside to beat my uncle and other neighborhood boys."
 
"Once I got the 'basketball bug'", continued Bracken, "I realized my skills and potential, and there was no stopping me. I arrived at CPP at the age of 15, a skinny, nervous teenager who was glad to have the opportunity to further my education by playing for Coach Darlene May, at a championship school like CPP."
 
Following her four-year career with the Broncos, Bracken spent a few years coaching locally and playing professionally in Taiwan and Israel, as well as making it to the final cut of tryouts for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA on numerous occasions. Around this time, Bracken joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, where she would ultimately become a sworn peace officer in 1997. In 2018, Bracken was promoted to Lieutenant, working directly with facility captains as Operations Lieutenant and then Risk Management Lieutenant, which is now her current position. During 28 years of service, Bracken has been recognized in her profession numerous times for: Rookie of the Year, several Captain's and city official commendations, as well as several Chief's Commendations.

 
Larry Gordon • 2005-2009 • Men's Basketball

Larry Gordon is just one of seven players in CPP men's basketball history to be named an NABC All-American, having led the Broncos to their first national championship game in program history during the 2008-09 season.
 
Gordon played all four seasons under current head coach, Greg Kamansky, and ranks Top 10 in program history in 19 statistical categories, more than any other player in program history. He is undeniably the best rebounder to ever wear a Broncos' uniform, ranking first in career offensive rebounds (291), defensive rebounds (656), and total rebounds (947).  He also holds the program record for most career double-doubles with 36, and the single season record for minutes played with 1,115. Gordon led the team in rebounding in each of his four seasons with the Broncos, while also leading the team in scoring and steals in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.
 
Gordon was a three-time All-CCAA honoree, named to two CCAA All-Tournament teams, three-time CCAA Player of the Week, 2005-06 CCAA Freshman of the Year, 2008-09 CCAA Player of the Year, two-time All-West Region, 2008-09 NABC All-American, and named to the NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament team.
 
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cal Poly Pomona is something I honestly didn't even think about happening for me . . I was really surprised when I got the call," said Gordon. "I had an amazing career at CPP, and it was because of my time at Cal Poly that I was able to go further with basketball as a profession. I'm very honored to be receiving such a prestigious honor."
 
After attending CPP, Gordon played professionally in eight different countries over a 12-year span; including the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Israel, Romania, and Portugal. During his professional career, Gordon won three championships, was a two-time All-Star, Dunk Content Champion, six-time EuroBasket Honorable Mention, German All-Defensive Team, and was named Third Team All-German. 
 
Most recently, Gordon has been a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer in Las Vegas, Nevada for the past two years.

 
1983 Men's Cross Country Team

The 1983 men's cross country team remains the only cross country team in school history to win a national championship. Their title was Cal Poly Pomona's fifth team national championship in department history, and is the only one among the current five fall sports. They are also the most recent team from both the CCAA, and the west region, to win a national title in men's cross country.
 
In his fourth year at the helm, Jim Sackett's 1983 squad reached the national championships for the first of 14 times during his successful 27-year tenure as head coach. On November 12, 1983, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Broncos placed first in a field of 17 teams to hold up the program's first trophy. Matt Blaty, a 2018 inductee into the Cal Poly Pomona Athletics Hall of Fame, led the Broncos with a ninth-place finish at 31:04.0 – which still ranks 11^th in school history at the National Championships. Tony Reyes and Gary Borbon finished close behind at 11^th and 14^th place, respectively, leading the Broncos to the national title with 86 points.  
 
That year, the Broncos also won the CCAA Championships with a first-place finish in Rocklin, CA; Matt Blaty with a first-place finish of 31:14.0.
 
"I only have fond memories of our championship team and the friendships created over that year," said Tony Reyes, CPP's second-highest finisher in the 1983 National Championships. "It was a special group as most successful teams are, and we were fortunate to have a great coach that gave us the leadership and encouragement to reach for a championship!  The Cal Poly Pomona [Athletics] Hall of Fame is the final cap to an incredible group of young men I can still call friends to this day!"
 

The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 10^th, 2024 at 11:30 AM in Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel.  A reception will begin at 11:30 AM with lunch to follow at 12:00 PM, and the program starting at 12:30 PM. The unveiling of the Hall of Fame plaques will take place in Kellogg Arena at 2:00 PM.

 
Tickets to attend cost $50. To purchase tickets, click HERE.